A survey by the UK Department for Business found that FTSE 350 firms are falling short on cyber security, with only 14% considering cyber threats regularly and many not receiving intelligence updates. The science minister said large companies need to do more to protect their data. A new cyber security standard will be introduced in early 2023 along with one-on-one assistance from auditing firms to help companies strengthen protections based on their survey responses. Research also found that small and medium businesses often prioritize tasks like ordering business cards over improving data security.

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Improve Your Security, Minister Tells Major
Firms
Large companies need to do more to make their data safe, science
minister David Willetts has said.
A new survey by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
found FTSE 350 firms are persistently falling short on information
security, with only 14 per cent giving regular thought to cyber threats
and many not receiving regular intelligence updates about cyber
criminal activity.

2. Despite this, 62 per cent believe their boards are taking the issue
seriously and 60 per cent recognise what their key assets and
information are.
Other findings in the study, which was carried out anonymously,
showed 56 per cent have cyber on the risk register, but only 39 per
cent had made use of the government's ten-step cyber security
guidance, only 25 per cent thought cyber crime to be a leading risk to
them and just 17 per cent have set out what they consider to be an
acceptable level of cyber risk.

3. Mr Willets commented: "The cyber crime threat facing UK companies is
increasing. Many are already taking this extremely seriously, but more
still needs to be done.
"We are working with businesses to encourage them to make cyber
security a board-level responsibility."
The minister revealed that a kitemark-style cyber standard will be
established early next year, having been developed with industry. It will
form part of the £860 million cross-government National Cyber Security
Programme.

4. Mr Willets explained: "The cyber standard will promote excellence in
tackling cyber risks, help businesses better understand how to protect
themselves, and ultimately increase the nation’s collective cyber
security."
Another measure will be for one of the six largest audit firms to provide
assistance to each of the companies that responded to the survey to
bolster their data protection measures, with the approach tailored to
each organisation's needs based on the responses it gave.

5. It is not just large enterprises that are falling short on cyber security,
according to a recent survey by internet and mobile security company
AVG Technologies.
The firm found small and medium enterprises in the UK and in North
America were often mixing up their priorities, with over a fifth of firms
on both sides of the Atlantic spending more time ordering new
business cards than taking steps to improve their data protection.
Storetec News/Blogs."http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/improve-your-security-minister-tells-major-firms/". Improve your
security, minister tells major firms. November 27, 2013. Storetec.

6. It is not just large enterprises that are falling short on cyber security,
according to a recent survey by internet and mobile security company
AVG Technologies.
The firm found small and medium enterprises in the UK and in North
America were often mixing up their priorities, with over a fifth of firms
on both sides of the Atlantic spending more time ordering new
business cards than taking steps to improve their data protection.
Storetec News/Blogs."http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/improve-your-security-minister-tells-major-firms/". Improve your
security, minister tells major firms. November 27, 2013. Storetec.